The Kiwis have slipped well off the pace after the second stage on the Tour of Beijing cycling race in China.

Greg Henderson, who was sixth heading into the 126km stage from the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium to Men Tou Gou in the hills west of the Chinese capital, struggled on the hills and finished 92nd, 13 minutes and 13 seconds behind the winner, German Tony Martin.

Clinton Avery was 124th at the same time and Hayden Roulston (69th) and Jesse Sergent (70th) didn't fare a whole lot better, crossing 9.06 behind Martin.

The best of the New Zealanders was George Bennett, who was 2.56 behind the winner in 56th place to be the leading Kiwi in the general classification. The RadioShack Nissan Trek rider is 45th, 3.15 behind.

Martin, the defending champion, takes a significant 50-second lead in the general classification ahead of Italy's Francesco Gavazzi.

The third of five stages in the UCI World Tour race is later today, 162.5km from Men Tou Gou to Badaling Great Wall.